Crystal structure of N,N'-di-benzyl-pyromellitic diimide

The title compound, C₂₄H₁₆N₂O₄ [systematic name: 2,6-di-benzyl-pyrrolo-[3,4-f]iso-indole-1,3,5,7(2H,6H)-tetra-one], consists of a central pyromellitic di-imide moiety with terminal benzyl groups at the N-atom positions. The mol-ecule is located about an inversion centre, so the asymmetric unit contains one half-mol-ecule. In the mol-ecule, both terminal phenyl groups, tilted by 72.97 (4)° with respect to the mean plane of the central pyromellitic di-imide moiety (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0145 Å), are oriented away from each other, forming an elongated S-shaped conformation. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected via weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C-H⋯π inter-actions, resulting in the formation of supra-molecular layers extending parallel to the ab plane.